16 Month Old Won't Nap During the Day in His Crib

I totally agree with you- cry it out sucks. Read what I wrote in response to "ever awake 2 year old"- it's kinda long and I don't want to retype it:) While I don't agree with cry it out, I do agree with their reasons- falling asleep is a skill kids have to learn, not something they do naturally. However, abandoning a kid to cry it out violates the trust you have just spent the past 16 months fostering in your child. So you are right not to want to let him cry it out, and don't listen to anyone who says "it's the only way!" And, as I say in the other post, it's not easy or fast, but it will pay off!

One thing, it would help if I knew how he went to sleep at night- does he fall asleep on his own? Even if so, he may have gotten accustomed to falling asleep in the stroller during the day and compartmentalized the two experiences. No more stroller naps! That DOES need to stop.

Hi! I have the exact same problem with my son, who is 15 months old. He will go to bed without a problem and sleeps (for the most part!) through the night, naptime is a completely different situation. I wish that I had some advice for you. I have tried everything without any luck - the only solution I have found is to sit with him on the couch for about 5 minutes and rub his back until he falls asleep. He will nap there for about 2 hours, which I'll take! Sorry that I had no advice, but sympathy - I know what you are going through!! I hope that you find a solution that works best for the two of you.

Hi my name is M. and I ahve a 21 month old daughter. My daughter too sleeps 10-11 hrs a nite but she is put down for a nap and she can go from 1, 1/2 to 2 hrs. How did we do that? Well I is about repitition. Begin w/ a scheduled time for naps. Try to minimize lighting, and keep the house quite. I will let her know in advance it is time for a nap and we will sit in the mommy chair and read a couple of books for winding down. Then I place her in her crib give her blankie and fave monkey and tell her it is time to be quite and go to sleep. Then step out of the room but do not close the door all the way, just enough so he does not see you. Now I know you do not like the crying out method, I did not like it too. But here is a great method you csn try. First time you leave the room let him stir for about 5 mins, go in rub back and tell him it is time ti go to sleep, DO NOT stay longer than 1-2 mins and get out of the room again. Next time wait up to 10 mins and repeat., keep increasin the mins by 5 mins. Also, having a "lovey or fave toy" helps alot, gives them something to hold on to. If he is really tired eventually he will fall asleep. This is what I did for my daughter but remember you have to be consistent! Also you can incorporate a timed nitelite or song to aid him fall asleep. You can also do this for nite time routine so you do not have to keep walking him. That just conditions him to fall asleep only when moving, when he should be able to do it on his own, wether it be nap OR bedtime. It may a day or two or a week, but keep trying, and it gets better the more consistent you are :) Hopes this helps!

I had the same problem. I just starting winding her down starting with lunch. Made the the room darker. I let her choose a book that I would read to her before nap, and always would let her know if you take a good nap then there would be some sort of reward. At first I would give her 2 M & M's when she woke up. I know that sound bad, BUT I only had to do that for about 2 weeks. Now I just say after nap we can go to the park ( or whatever activity) Now she's more then happy to take a nap.

Hi,
I was going to write a long response to this but then I read Marie Joanne's response- she wrote exactly what I was thinking. Her advice is great and I second it!
Good luck ;)